Comparison of the Two Most Famous Works in Novel History Tristram Shandy and Joseph Andres
Novels written in the 18th century in English literature have survived to the present day and still maintain their popularity thanks to the messages they contain and the quality of the writers. The writers of this period carried the politics, social issues, and moral aspects of the period into their works by criticizing and exemplifying them intensely. Laurence Sterne, one of the leading authors, produced the well-known work ‘Tristram Shandy’ in this period in an incredibly careful and sustainable way. However, in this work and other works of Stern, he tried to reveal the difference by displaying an attitude against conventional. He used satire and irony very well, so he could easily convey the psychological background of his works to the reader. Back to Tristram Shandy again, this novel is famous for its various experiences and anecdotes. Laurence Stern did not have any specific purpose while writing this work. With this aspect, the work aroused a lot of curiosity in its period. Besides Stern, another writer who hit his era like a meteorite is Henry Fielding. Henry Fielding is a writer who takes care to write by reflecting realism in his works but at the same time he also used satire and humor well. Unlike Laurence Stern, Henry Fielding has conventionally progressed in his work, and there is no opposition. Henry Fielding, who creates characters that can be easily revived in the reader's subconscious, stands out with this feature. However, Henry Fielding depends on his well-known work, ‘Joseph Andrews.’ This novel is a novel that criticizes by shedding light on the general problems of that period. Thus, this article will interpret the moral problems, class distinction, and the impact of norms on society in the period of these two famous works, Joseph Andrews and Tristram Shandy by comparing them.
The first issue is how class distinction in these two novels is reflected in society. Throughout the novels Tristram Shandy and Joseph Andrews, the authors touch on class distinction and talk about it unusually. According to Tristram Shandy, while describing the characters in the novel, he satirically criticizes the idea that the higher class is always more virtuous. Examples can be found in the book. In the same way, According to Joseph Andrews, people in the lower class are more respectful and virtuous, contrary to what is thought of society of 18th-century Britain. In other words, when these two works are compared, it can be said that both authors were equally affected by the subject of class discrimination and criticized directly, indirectly, and satirically.
Another critical issue is how Tristram Shandy and Joseph Andrews work in the moral dimension and what is their impact on society. When it comes to Tristram, the general of this novel, and especially the main character does not adapt to the moral structure of the 18th century, but he normalizes it in his way and satirically criticizes it. The fact that Tristram openly expresses the sexual process of his family until after his conception is an indication of this. With this point of view and his novel, Tristram was greeted strangely in society, but the fact that his work did not go to a certain aim, aroused people's curiosity and was accepted in society. On the contrary, Joseph Andrews, although satirical and comedic, was a work more in line with the moral understanding of the period. One of the main reasons is that the events are more realistic and even the subject of the novel is the victory of virtue. Thus, as a male character, Joseph Andrews showed that virtue and honor are not only for women and that the moral structure can be preserved.
Other norms, such as politics and gender roles, have been established in society in these novels in addition to the two basic standards outlined in the previous two paragraphs. Even though it is not political in either Tristram or Andrews, these two authors once more strew it with humor and satire. Political and religious events that took place in a period like the 18th century were not included in these novels, but this situation could be included by creating a more distant and comedic atmosphere. The valueless position of women in society at the time the novels were published was condemned in the books. However, a woman in Joseph Andrews is depicted to the reader in a different way than a conventional woman. As a result, Tristram Shandy's female characters differ from those in Joseph Andrews.
To sum up, Henry Fielding and Laurence Sterne produced the most important works of the 18th century and Tristram Shandy and Joseph Andrews presented the moral problems of class division and other important norms of the period, sometimes from the same perspective, sometimes in a different way. When comparing the two novels and the author according to the conditions of the period, the most prominent issue is the parts of the authors that seem to have been written to entertain the reader, without taking the events too seriously. In two works, he criticizes, but there are even statements that they are comedy books. Often writers write ridiculous things without realizing it, but Laurence Stern did it on purpose. While describing Joseph Andrews as someone who has preserved his virtue and is glorified with his own story, it is impossible to say anything about Tristram Shandy completely because the author portrays the character of Tristram as a shadow in a completely original, unconventional way. Briefly, while reading these two books, someone who is interested in 18th-century England may notice numerous aspects of that period, their remnants, and sarcastic commentary.
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